Law Gives Winter Park Edge In Wastewater Irrigation Deals

WINTER PARK — The city can negotiate more agreements to use treated wastewater for irrigation because of a law passed last week by the state Legislature.

The Wastewater Liability Irrigation law was proposed by Winter Park and sponsored by state Sen. Toni Jennings, R-Orlando, and state Rep. Tom Drage, R- Winter Park, said City Manager David Harden.

Harden went to Tallahassee twice in recent weeks to testify before a Senate committee. The law prevents any person who uses water for spray irrigation from being held liable for damages from a lawsuit. The city would be liable.

''We have had difficulty negotiating agreements with property owners to accept our reclaimed water for irrigation purposes because they are concerned about pollution liability. Although, as far as we know, there has never been a claim made about the use of this water,'' said Harden.

However, property owners would be liable for damages if they did not follow state regulations when using the water.

Since November 1985 the city has been using treated wastewater to irrigate the Showalter Field-Ward Park-Cady Way recreation complex and Winter Pines Golf Course.

The water is safe for all uses except drinking, and it percolates through the soil so slowly that only a small percentage gets into the drinking water aquifer.

The city's refurbished East Water Treatment Plant is licensed to discharge 275,000 gallons of water a day but can discharge 750,000 gallons a day.

''This is becoming a more common method of wastewater disposal. It conserves groundwater because, instead of drawing water out of a well, you use water that would otherwise be discarded. The wastewater also has nitrogen and phosphorous in it, so it reduces the amount of fertilizer you use,'' Harden said.

Harden said Winter Park has been negotiating with Glen Haven cemetery for almost two years and the question of liability has been the stumbling block to an agreement. The city reached an agreement with Interlachen Country Club by promising to provide a $3 million indemnity.

With the new law, the city will not need to provide that indemnity, Harden said.

If the city reaches an agreement with Glen Haven it would raise the daily discharge of wastewater to about 600,000 gallons a day. No more employees or equipment will be needed at the sewage treatment plant, Harden said.